Topic: Your recommendations?...

[X]

If you've not played Final Fantasy 3 US (Final Fantasy 6 Japan) Then I would suggest you do so. I found it just as enthralling and engaging as FF 4. I highly recommend.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

Not sure if it's possible, but:

-If you have a choice over the SNES one (USA calls it "Final Fantasy III" even though it's Final Fantasy VI) and the Gameboy Advance one (USA calls it "Final Fantasy VI Advance"), you get a slightly more 'complete' game with the GBA version, while suffering from some slight audio deficiencies.  The SNES one's audio is rather great and it still holds up even today, but there is no post-game dungeon or better bestiary, etc.

-If you have a chance to play Illusion of Gaia (Illusion of Time in Europe) you should give that a whirl.  Great story, but the translation team often made blind idiot translation errors (such as confusing the word "Violent" and "Violinist", LMAO).  Its spiritual sequel, "Terranigma" is actually a better game that plays like a Zelda/Mana title, but has graphics that resemble Chrono Trigger.

[Ratty]

Not sure if it's possible, but:

-If you have a choice over the SNES one (USA calls it "Final Fantasy III" even though it's Final Fantasy VI) and the Gameboy Advance one (USA calls it "Final Fantasy VI Advance"), you get a slightly more 'complete' game with the GBA version, while suffering from some slight audio deficiencies.  The SNES one's audio is rather great and it still holds up even today, but there is no post-game dungeon or better bestiary, etc.

-If you have a chance to play Illusion of Gaia (Illusion of Time in Europe) you should give that a whirl.  Great story, but the translation team often made blind idiot translation errors (such as confusing the word "Violent" and "Violinist", LMAO).  Its spiritual sequel, "Terranigma" is actually a better game that plays like a Zelda/Mana title, but has graphics that resemble Chrono Trigger.

Ehh I wouldn't play the GBA version. Aside from the audio being crap, the colors/contrast on everything was brightened up for the GBA screen. Which to me just doesn't seem right, it's changing the original artists vision in the same way cropping or colorizing a movie is. And I think FF3/6 is a masterpiece that deserves to be seen in its original glory. That's my opinion though, and I'm not really one to care about post-game content, especially in a game that's already 60+ hours long XD.

I'm considering playing Illusion of Gaia myself, played Soul Blazer earlier this year and it was enjoyable. Been meaning to play through the trilogy for a few years.

PS- Whatever you do don't play the iOS (and I assume android) version of Final Fantasy 6. They redid the character sprites for no apparent reason and they look horrible.

[X]

Illusion of Gaia is a more polished game when compared to SoulBlazer (Gameplay wise). Kinda like comparing ActRazer to ActRazer II. For the life of me I can't seem to get into Terranigma. I always get stuck in tower 2 and can't progress from there, and yes I've even checked out walkthroughs, but to no avail. Terranigma also feels less polished when compared to IoG or SB for that matter. I would really love to give Terranigma a good solid playthrough, but that damned tower..!

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

LOL you get stuck on Tower 2?  In the Underworld?  That's, like... 1/2hr into the game...

[X]

LOL you get stuck on Tower 2?  In the Underworld?  That's, like... 1/2hr into the game...

It's sad but true...

DON'T JUDGE ME! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH! LOL!

[theANdROId]

The GBA one is the one I have...the difference didn't bother me, but then again GBA is what I started with.  I get what you're saying though.

But then...

-Off the top of my head, I know I've played the one with Cid, Palom, Porom...ummm...others whose names I don't remember.
---This was Final Fantasy II US or Final Fantasy IV Japan. Great game! The first one to get me hooked on the series.
Quote

-There was another, but I don't remember anything distinct about it.  It was one that was remade in 3D on the GBA or the original DS...there was an "Onion Knight" that you could get by getting a bunch of friend codes, except nobody I know cares for Final Fantasy.  That's all I remember.
---This one's the remake of the original Famicom (NES) Final Fantasy III. Not a bad game but it didn't really grab me as the above did.

-If you have a choice over the SNES one (USA calls it "Final Fantasy III" even though it's Final Fantasy VI) and the Gameboy Advance one (USA calls it "Final Fantasy VI Advance"), you get a slightly more 'complete' game with the GBA version, while suffering from some slight audio deficiencies.  The SNES one's audio is rather great and it still holds up even today, but there is no post-game dungeon or better bestiary, etc.

So, I have 2 and 3...but wanna play FF 3 and 4?  The numerical differences just mess with my head. :-S
I think there's one I've heard is good...one that was on the SNES, has some sort of mechs in it, and I think that's where "Kefka" comes from, or some other character or something.  But again, I tend to get lost in the numerical differences.

[Ratty]

The GBA one is the one I have...the difference didn't bother me, but then again GBA is what I started with.  I get what you're saying though.

But then...

So, I have 2 and 3...but wanna play FF 3 and 4?  The numerical differences just mess with my head. :-S
I think there's one I've heard is good...one that was on the SNES, has some sort of mechs in it, and I think that's where "Kefka" comes from, or some other character or something.  But again, I tend to get lost in the numerical differences.

That's 6 aka 3 in the original release in the USA. The numerical differences aren't that bad once you lay them out. It's like this-

On the NES/Famicom in Japan

Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy 2 - not released in the USA
Final Fantasy 3 - not released in the USA

SNES

Final Fantasy 4 - released as Final Fantasy 2 outside Japan, since the real 2 & 3 had not been released.
Final Fantasy 5 - not released in the USA
Final Fantasy 6 - released as Final Fantasy 3 outside Japan, since the real 2, 3 & 5 had not been released.

PS1

They quit changing the numbers on the games at this point with the release of Final Fantasy 7 on the PS1.

Final Fantasy 2 and 5 were brought to the USA in PS1 compilations of the older games, which was when Square started retroactively using the real numbers for the games outside Japan.

It would take a while yet for the real 3rd game, originally on the Famicom/NES, to make its way outside Japan in the form of a DS remake. Over the years most of these games have gotten various remakes, updates and re-releases on various platforms in the west since their initial releases to the region.

[X]

Diddo.

[theANdROId]

I kinda get it, but it still kinda confuses me to think about.  Then again, it's late, and I really haven't slept "normally" for the last month as we have a newborn -- so I know my ability to process is less than ideal! ;-P

I have Final Fantasy IV on the DS...which if I'm understanding right is the same as the Japanese Final Fantasy 4...but it was originally released in the US as FF 2.  I guess the release on the DS corrected the number?

I also have Final Fantasy III on the DS...which is the Japanese FF3 I think.  This is the one I didn't enjoy as much.

My cousin says I should try FF3 (US) which is the same as FF6 (JPN)...and this is also the one Jorge suggested I try.

I think I got it! :-D

[X]

I have Final Fantasy IV on the DS...which if I'm understanding right is the same as the Japanese Final Fantasy 4

I own this version too, but wasn't thrilled that they decided on 3D rather then Sprites. I would recommend you getting the PSP version of FF IV. It contains the original JP FFIV game, a short in-between game taking place right after FFIV, and FFIV: The After Years. One big compilation.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

For completeness, you want "Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection", which is, as X described, comprised of "Final Fantasy IV" JPN (Hard-Type), an Interlude chapter, and then "Final Fantasy IV: The After Years".

I have a soft spot for the DS version because of the Augment system and because of the really good voice acting.  Music is pretty great, too.  Not sure if they ported the music over to the Complete Collection.

[theANdROId]

I've got the after years on the Wii.  I'm not positive, but I think this was my second experience with the Final Fantasy series -- the first was Tactics Advance.  Anyway, nearly exactly as now, I had a "craving" for a good RPG.  Since the Final Fantasy titles were pretty well known, I tried After Years on the Wii.  I played the first story, loved it, bought the rest, started the second, and then thought, "I should play the game this stems from before I play this.  Since I already own two pieces (or is the interlude included in the Wii version of After Years?  I forget what was there, and my Wii isn't nearby at the moment) and since I don't own a PSP, I probably won't go that route...I appreciate the suggestion though.  I appreciate all the suggestions really!  Every now and then I get a craving to dive into a good RPG, ever since I first got into them (I'd hated the turn-taking style RPG games until I was introduced to Chrono Cross and Earthbound.) and now I've got a list of great stuff to check out!

[X]

The game is also downloadable on the PSNetwork. At least I'm pretty sure it is. So if you have a PS3 you should be able to get the PSP game off the network.

[theANdROId]

I have a question for you X, and GuyStarwind...how is the story or character development in Grinsia?  I enjoyed and thought the story and characters were pretty great in games like FF4, Earthbound, or Chrono Trigger.  Is Grinsia comparable?  Is it not, but still decent?